Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Project 365 (47/365): Digital Feedback Extraordinaire

This routine from Richard Osterlind’s “No Camera Tricks” is not only a keeper, but a very useful way to get somebody’s number.

Essentially, it’s a mentalism routine that allows people to think of a multiple-digit number each, and by manipulating the operations you utilize on the numbers, they end up with a target number that you pre-determined. The operations are conducted using a scientific calculator, so the results should be unimpeachable.

It’s a very good prediction effect on its own, but seeing as this is February, we need to be able to utilize this whole target number business in a totally different direction...

First of all, set the target number as your mobile number.

Then, if you’re so brazen, premise that the target number has a special significance, and after counting the number of digits, you’ve concluded that it’s a mobile number, and you ask your targeted volunteer to look at the number, and see if it’s familiar with her. She’ll probably say know.

Now, you ask her if she’s single. With any luck, she is, and then you just tease her by asking if she’s keen on perhaps finding someone for this month. After all, it is February, and you never know, it may be worth taking a chance on the number you ended up with. I mean, you only live once, right? Ask her to give the number a call and see what happens.

If she does, then you just got her hook, line, and sinker. Not only did you condition her hammily that this person on the other end of the line could be the guy she’s looking for, you already have her number. It’s up to you how you’d play off the fact that your phone is now ringing. You can talk about destiny or whatnot, or you could discreetly ignore this facet and just contact her after the show.